Ray Marlen Bailey (Ray)

RAY MARLEN BAILEY

SEPTEMBER 9, 1935-MAY 9, 2006

RAY WAS BORN ON PEEL CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1935. HIS FATHER WAS FRANK MARLEN BAILEY. HIS MOTHER WAS DELLA WOODS BAILEY. RAY BEGAN WORKING IN THE COALMINES IN 1953 AND CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL HE WAS INJURED IN A MINING ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 26, 1973. HE WORKED WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MINES UNTIL 1968, WHEN HE BEGAN WORK WITH US STEEL AT GARY, WV. HE WAS INJURED WHILE WORKING US STEEL. HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK.

RAY MET ME, JOYCE COATES BAILEY, ON JUNE 21, 1993 AT DICK'S SWISSBURGER AT APPROXIMATELY 2AM. CONNIE, MY SISTER, WORKED THERE AT THE TIME AND INTRODUCED US. I WASN'T LOOKING AND NEITHER WAS HE. ONCE WE BEGIN TO TALK TO EACH OTHER WE FOUND THAT WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON.

MY HUSBAND DIED ON AUGUST 4, 1992 AND I WAS GRIEVING VERY HARD AND SO WAS HE. HE MISSED DOROTHY SO BAD THAT HE WASN'T EATING OR SLEEPING AND HIS HEALTH WAS NOT GOOD. I HAD COME TO HELP MY MOTHER THAT HAD BEEN SICK AND RAY CALLED ME AT MOM'S AND ASK IF I WANTED TO GO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT, I AGREED AND WE WENT TO DINNER ON FRIDAY. I LEFT TO GO HOME ON SUNDAY AND HE ASKED ME TO MEET HIM IN PRINCETON AT HARDEE. HE MET ME AND SAID GOOD-BYE AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I ALREADY HAD A MESSSAGE FROM HIM. RAY GAVE ME BACK A LIFE THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER HAVE AGAIN. I KNEW BY THE TIME I LEFT THAT I LOVED HIM. I WOULD NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH UNTIL I LOST HIM.

Ray, you were a man that loved with all his heart. You always had a gentle spirit about you. I miss you so much. Just the touch of your hand on my face, your smile. I miss your voice that told me you loved me many time a day. All this, I will never forget. I will always love you. You will remain a part of my heart forever. Loved & missed forever, your family & friends

Submitted by: Joyce Bailey On 10/26/2007